Spygate - Reboot

 

Following the disappointing outcome of John Durham's investigation into Russiagate, President Trump's Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has breathed new life into the investigation. 

After CIA Director John Ratcliffe made criminal referrals to the Department of Justice for James Comey and John Brennan for allegedly lying under oath, this week, Gabbard made a criminal referral to the DOJ for Barack Obama, alleging that he instructed the intelligence community to fabricate an assessment implicating Russia and Donald Trump in an attempt to interfere in the 2016 election. Obama's instructions came in early December 2016, after Trump had been elected, and after all previous IC assessments had indicated there was no attempt by Russia to meddle in the election.

CIA Director Ratcliffe's criminal referral fingered Comey & Brennan. DNI Gabbard has her sights set on Obama. Hard to imagine she would be going this hard against Barack unless Bondi & Kash were on the same page. pic.twitter.com/vjPhIc0R5l

— Praying Medic (@prayingmedic) July 19, 2025

Naturally, people are wondering if anyone will be held accountable. 

Trump has placed people in his cabinet whom he believes will right the wrongs of the past, including Pam Bondi, who has been vilified for her handling of matters related to Jeffrey Epstein. I won't comment on Boni's trustworthiness other than to say that Trump backs her completely. If she were to hold up prosecution of Spygate conspirators for what Trump deemed to be an illegitimate reason, she could be replaced. That puts pressure on her to allow the justice process to continue unimpeded. 

There's an interesting dynamic at play regarding Gabbard's disclosures. She has characterized Obama's behavior as "treasonous" and has used the term "seditious conspiracy" on several occasions. It's unusual for someone who is not an attorney to use such language, as it creates an expectation in the mind of listeners. My question is whether Gabbard is using these terms on her own volition as a freelancer, or whether she has consulted with Pam Bondi and Trump and is using this language at their request. 

If she is using these terms at their request, then she is intentionally shaping a narrative for listeners to help them adjust mentally to what is coming. She would be signaling the type of criminal charges we can expect and who will be charged. 

If she's freelancing, she could be setting the public up with unrealistic expectations that will lead to disappointment. Worse, it would cause conflict within the administration, as the DOJ may not support her accusations with criminal charges. 

I won't predict who will ultimately be charged or what crimes they will be charged with. It's too early for that. Some of the conspirators will likely be offered plea deals in exchange for providing information about the criminal conspiracy. Interestingly, the criminal referrals are not for low-level players, unlike in the past. The latest referrals are for none other than the former CIA Director, the former FBI Director, and the former President. 

There's a serious legal question to be answered regarding the feasibility of charging a former President for acts he committed as part of his official duties. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled in a case involving President Trump that acts committed as part of the President's official duties are immune from prosecution. Whether Obama can be charged for acts he committed while in office is unclear. I'm optimistic that justice is coming. I'll post updates here as more information is released.